Chelsea keeper Courtois suffers ankle injury

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Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has picked up an ankle injury and could miss Saturday’s game at Brighton.

The Belgian’s injury is a further blow for the Blues, who are already without the sidelined Gary Cahill and Cesc Fabregas and the suspended Pedro and Alvaro Morata.

Pedro and Morata must serve bans after both being sent off during Wednesday’s FA Cup win against Norwich.

Recent signing Ross Barkley is in the Chelsea squad for the trip to the south coast.

Barkley, who had hamstring surgery last summer, featured in behind-closed-doors friendly against QPR’s development side on Thursday, scoring twice.

It was the England international’s first outing of the season.

Blues boss Antonio Conte has suggested that Barkley will be among Chelsea’s substitutes. 

“I think Ross is in good physical condition,” Conte said.

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“Yesterday he played 70 minutes in a friendly game and for tomorrow he is in the squad – he is coming with us for the game against Brighton.

“I don’t know if during the game I will give him a chance to play part of the game or if I want to wait if the game doesn’t ask for this type of situation.

“He is in the squad and he has to continue to improve and to continue to work with us.”